By John Q. Hosedrinker 
According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the US and China have finalized a deal to transfer TikTok’s US operations to new ownership, with details agreed upon in Madrid and awaiting finalization between leaders. The deal, part of a broader trade framework, follows a September executive order by Trump facilitating US-based ownership with American investors holding a majority stake. This transfer, valued at approximately $14 billion, will see new investors oversee the app’s algorithm and control the majority of board seats. The agreement is expected to be formalized during a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, where trade balance and the fentanyl crisis will also be discussed.
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US and China reach ‘final deal’ on TikTok sale, treasury secretary says, and this news has sparked a flurry of reactions, and frankly, a whole lot of skepticism. It seems the core of the issue boils down to a fundamental distrust of the players involved and a deep-seated fear that the deal, whatever it may be, is far from what it seems.
The fact that we’re hearing about a “final deal” from the US side, specifically the Treasury Secretary, while China remains silent, raises immediate red flags. This disparity alone fuels the suspicion that the agreement is less about genuine resolution and more about political maneuvering. Many are waiting for official confirmation from Beijing before they even consider it a real deal. There’s a prevailing sentiment that Trump, a key figure in this process, isn’t someone who plays it straight, with a history of broken agreements and questionable deals.
And let’s be honest, the potential players involved only add fuel to the fire. The mention of individuals like Rupert Murdoch and Larry Ellison as potential investors immediately evokes concerns about the future direction of the platform. The fear is that the app will transform into a far-right echo chamber, echoing the sentiment that it’ll become just another platform for conservative propaganda, pushing specific ideals in a heavy-handed way. This idea of turning a popular platform into a tool for state-sponsored messaging is a worry. Many people are thinking about how to delete the app as soon as they know the transition will go live.
The potential technical aspects of the deal also give people pause. Will the American version of TikTok be isolated, potentially crippling its value? Or, will the data continue to flow back to ByteDance in China, rendering the entire exercise pointless? The concern here is about the integrity of the data and the actual separation of the platform from its Chinese roots.
There’s also a significant amount of negativity associated with the app itself. Many people are sharing personal experiences about what they perceive as negative impacts. Some feel the app has had a detrimental effect on the users, leading to the spread of misinformation and a decline in critical thinking skills, contributing to the idea that the app itself is harmful.
The overarching feeling is that this whole situation is a mess, a power play, and a potential disaster. The general consensus seems to be a strong desire for the app to disappear, to make way for better alternatives. People are skeptical, fearful of manipulation, and ready to walk away at the first sign of any political agenda. This idea of the app being hijacked and transformed into something unwanted and even harmful seems to be the main driver of the negative sentiment.
Another sentiment expressed is how Trump is using the deal to enrich himself and his allies. The perceived corruption and potential for personal gain are major concerns, adding to the mistrust surrounding the deal. Many believe that the deal is inherently flawed, driven by self-interest and a desire for control rather than a genuine attempt to resolve the issues at hand.
The future of the app is also being pondered. The general consensus is that a shift in political control will inevitably lead to a loss of users, content creators, and overall value. The fear of forced political messaging seems to be the driving force behind this belief. This highlights a fundamental disagreement about the app’s potential and its future in a dramatically altered landscape.
Finally, the discussion also touches on the legal and political dimensions of the situation. Some are pointing out that Congress had already voted to ban TikTok, and that the new deal may be sidestepping this. This further underscores the perception of a deal that is not only corrupt but also potentially illegal, adding another layer of complexity and distrust. Overall, it’s clear that the reaction to the “final deal” is overwhelmingly negative, and the future of TikTok in the US remains very uncertain.